Cross country teams chasing lofty goals

September 19, 2008

By Staff

By Derek Johnson, Jim Feehan and Christopher Huber

Issaquah

“The boys team finished second in KingCo, third in district and third in state,” said coach Gwen Robertson. “Our top returning state competitors are Chris Brasino, Kevin LeMond, Jon Wallis and Rory Montgomery. Additional top boys returning are Dennis Leigh, Connor Higgins and Turner Wiley. The top newcomer is Isaac Robinson.

“The girls team last year met their goal of qualifying for the district meet,” Robertson said. “Along with a solid group of returning runners, we have some newcomers who look to be a great addition to the team. Returning from last year’s varsity team are Emily Comfort, Mercedes Stroeve, Emma Ogilvie, Sarah Nelson and Amy Sullivan. Top newcomers are Arielle Walton, Brianna Fowler-Lindner and Elaine Tran.”

“For both the boys and girls teams, moving up to 4A will be a new and exciting experience,” Robertson said. “New courses, new teams and a different district will be challenges that everyone is looking forward to experiencing. This should be a fun year.”

Liberty High School

Liberty saw four of its top seven boys cross country runners graduate and will have only one senior on the squad.

But the cupboard is not entirely bare as Eric Bice, a junior, returns to lead the Patriots, said coach Michael Smith. Bice was among the top 60 finishers at the state meet last year.

Josiah Sherwood, a junior, and Alex Velasquez, a sophomore, likely will be the No. 2 and No. 3 runners, respectively. Juniors Brandon Thomas and Connor Moseley, sophomore Chris Turner and senior Nathan Platz will also contribute.

Smith said he’s enthused that at least 10 girls turned out for the cross-country team. Sarah Goodman, a senior, will lead the team. Madison Birdsall, a sophomore, and Alli Agnew, a senior, round out the top three runners, Smith said.

“If the girls stay healthy and interested, we should be good,” he said. “It remains to be seen if they will enjoy the sport once it gets nasty outside and they have homework and other school activities.”

Skyline High School

Coming off a respectable 2007 performance, the Skyline boys look to step it up this fall as they move up to KingCo 4A competition. The boys finished third in KingCo 3A and fifth at districts last year.

The Spartan boys will work to beat Issaquah again, as the Eagles also move up to Class 4A.

Among the top returning runners, Simon Sorensen, one of the area’s best, and senior captains Travis Lund and Jeff Lestz look to guide the team through the KingCo gauntlet in 2008.

“I think now he is definitely ready to be one of the top three in the state,” head coach Brendan Hyland said about Sorensen.

The boys should contend for the KingCo 4A title, but not before having their work cut out for them against Bothell, Redmond and Issaquah, he said. Michelle Ireland, a senior, and Lindsey Nicholson and Julie Ann Howe lead the girls squad this fall.